Collapsible bathtub seat



0t- 24, 1961 T. MATTHEWS 3,005,208

coLLAPsIBLE BATHTUB SEAT Filed Dec. 11, 1959 Unite States, Patent3,005,208 COLLAPSIBLE BATHTUB SEAT VThelma L. Matthews, P.O. Box 513,Kreole, Miss. Filed Dee. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 858,910

4 Claims. (Cl. 4--185) This invention relates to safety supports such asused in bathtubs and which are particularly designed for use by invalidsto enhance comfort in bathing and also ingress into a bathtub and egressfrom the tub; and in particular a `seat frame including spacedlongitudinally disposed rods connectedbytransversely disposed rods andhaving a mat of Arubber or other resilient material designed to bepositioned in the bottom of a bathtub, with clamps for securing theframe in position on the outer wall of the bathtub aiidva'cuirn cups forretaining the frame in position on the inner wall, and which alsoincludes a back rest positioned in the inclined end of the bathtub.

The purpose of this invention is to facilitate the use of a bathtub byinvalids and to eliminate the possibility of injury to invalidsresulting from slipping in a bathtub.

Various types of seats, mats, and frames have been designed for use inbathtubs and whereas such devices are used successfully by averageindividuals they are not designed to accommodate the entire body such asis required for invalids. With this thought in mind this inventioncontemplates a frame having longitudinally disposed telescoping rodsconnected by cross members and having a mat of resilient material in thelower portion and a seat or back rest at one end.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a lining for abathtub in which the lining is of a size sufricient to accommodate thebody of an invalid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame for covering theinner surface of a bathtub in which the frame may readily be positionedin the bathtub and also readily removed from the bathtub.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a frame for useas a lining for a bathtub in which the frame is adjustable to bathtubsof diterent sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide supporting means for aninvalid in a bathtub in which said supporting means is of simple andeconomical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionembodies a frame having spaced telescoping longitudinally disposedmembers connected by cross and vertical members, a mat of resilientmaterial positioned in the lower part of the frame, and a seat providinga back rest positioned at one end of the frame.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view showing the frame positioned in a bathtubwith parts of the frame and bathtub broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a view showing the invalid supporting frame for a bathtubwith the frame collapsed or folded to facilitate storing and shipping.

FIGURE 3 is a view illustrating connections of members of the frame withparts broken away and parts omitted.

FIGURE 4 is a View showing one of the clamps on the upper ends of theposts on the outer side of the frame.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the improved invalid supporting frame for a bathtubof this invention includes longitudinally disposed tubes 10, 11, 12 and13 positioned to receive horizontally disposed parallel spacedtelescoping rods 14, 15, 16 and 17, respectively, vertically disposedparallel spaced posts 18, 19 and 20 on the outer side of the frame andpositioned with the post 18 connecting the tubes 12 and 13 in verticallyspaced alinement with each other and the posts 19 and 20 connecting thetelescoping rods 16 and 17 in vertically spaced alinement with eachother and in horizontal alinement with the tubes 12 and 13; and alsovertically disposed posts 21, 22 and 23 positioned with the post 21connecting tubes 10 and 11 in vertically spaced alinement with eachother and the posts 22 and 23 connecting the telescoping rods 14 and 15in vertically spaced alinement with each other and in horizontalalinement with the tubes 10 and 11.

t The members are connected by crosses 24 and Ts 25, although it will beunderstood that the tubes may be connected by welding 'such as the hubs26 on ends of the tubes 10 and 11. VLower ends of the posts are providedwith vacuum cups 27 and similar vacuum cups may be provided on upperends of the posts 21, 22 and 23, as indicated by the numeral 28. Similarvacuum cups 29 may be provided on the inner or back frame for retainingthe frame in position against the rear wall 30 of a bathtub 31. Theposts 18, 19 and 20, at the front, may also be provided with vacuum cups32. Upper ends of the posts 18, 19 and 20 are provided with clamps 33having thumb screws 34 threaded in hubs 35 on lower ends of outervertical members 36. Inner ends of the thumb screws 34 are provided withwashers 37 and the washers are provided with resilient discs 38 whichare clamped against the outer wall of the bathtub, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The posts 20 and 23 are connected by a horizontal transversely disposedrod 39 and lower ends 40 of side members of a U-shaped frame 41 arepivotally mounted on the rod 39, as shown in FIGURE 1. The back restalso includes an aluminum plate 42 having perforations 43 therein andthe plate is secured by bolts 44 to tongues 45 extended from hubs 46 onthe bar 39. By this means the plate 42 may be used in a horizontalposition, as shown in FIGURE 1, or may be turned upwardly to a verticalposition.

The U-shaped frame 41 providing a back rest or back of a seat is coveredwith a sheet of canvas or other similar material 55 and it will beunderstood that similar sheets of material, either provided in singlesheets or in double sheets `with filling material, such as cushions maybe provided on or used in combination with the frame and such cushionsmay be located in various positions to accommodate patients havingdiierent handicaps. A foot rest 66 may also be provided on the mat 47,which is provided with perforations 48. The mat 47 may be of resilientrubber or other suitable material.

With the rods and tubular members pivotally mounted in the crosses, Tsand other ittings the parts readily fold to the position shown in FIGURE2 to facilitate storing and shipping.

With the parts assembled as illustrated and described and with the feetpositioned in a bathtub an invalid many have ingress into the bathtub oregress from the bathtub with freedom and without the possibilityl ofslipping or otherwise injuring parts of the body.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of theappended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A liner for the inner surface of a bathtub comprising a frame havingtelescoping side members, means for retaining the side members inposition on the side walls of a bathtub, a mat of resilient materialpositioned in the frame, and a back rest pivotally mounted. in one endof the frame.

2. A safety support for a bathtub comprising spaced longitudinallydisposed telescoping members, spaced vertically disposed memberssupporting the longitudinally disposed members, clamps on upper ends ofthe vertically disposed members positioned against the outer Wall of abathtub, vacuum cups on the'ver-tically disposed members positionedagainst the'inner Wall of a bathtub, a mat in the lower 'part of thesupport, and a back rest pivotally mounted in one end of said support.

3. ln a bathtub seat, the combination which comprises spacedlongitudinally disposed members, spaced vertically disposed supports forsaid longitudinally disposed members, clamps on said vertically disposedsupports at one side of a bathtub for retaining the vertically disposedmembers in position in said bathtub, vacuum cups on the verticallydisposed members on the opposite side of the bathtub, a back restincluding a U-shaped frame with a sheet of canvas thereon pivotallymounted in one end of the seat, and a perforated plate also mounted inthe end 'of the seat in which the back rest is positioned. -4. In aseat, the combination `which comprises spaced telescoping longitudinallydisposed members, spaced vertically disposed members attached to andpositioned to support the longitudinally disposed members, clamps onupper ends of the vertically disposed members at one side of the seat,vacuum cups on the vertically disposed members at the opposite side ofthe seat, a perforated mat of resilient material positioned in the seat,a U'shaped back rest covered by a sheet of material pivotally Vmountedin one end of the seat, a perforated plate also pivotally mounted in oneend of the seat, and a foot rest positioned in said'seat.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,644,954 Jumper July 14, 1953 2,732,565 Weber Jan. 31, 1956 2,736,904Suggs Mar. 6, 1956 2,815,513 Tilson et al. Dec. 10, 1957 2,885,690 ScottMay 12, 1959 c. Ir l, g m

